12th Grade Socratic Seminar: Government, Economics, and Public Health Topic: Regulation of Toxic Chemicals in the United States Goals of the Seminar: 1. To help students consider how proposed legislation to control toxic substances is influenced by and impacts upon economics and public safety. 2. To provide an opportunity for students to think critically and form answers to key questions: What is the government’s responsibility in ensuring the safety of consumer products? and Why should we as consumers be concerned about chemical exposure? 3. To raise questions that students will research and report back to classmates. Documents: 1. Examiner.com New York: “McDonald’s to release recall details on Shrek glasses June 8.” Robyn Kurth. June 6, 2010. http://www.examiner.com/x-1022-Orlando-Parenting-Examiner~y2010m6d6-McDonalds-to-release-recall-details-on-Shrek-glasses-June-8 2. CNN’s two-night special report “Toxic Childhood” airing June 2 and 3, 2010. 3. Online Newspaper article: “Confusion Centers on Chemicals and Cancer.” Kelly Brewington. The Baltimore Sun. May 27, 2010. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-05-27/health/bs-hs-chemicals-environment-cancer-20100527_1_exposures-chemicals-and-cancer-cancer-deaths 4. Online News Release: “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Strives to ‘REACH’ European Parity.” LeClairRyan. PR Newswire. June 3, 2010. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/safe-chemicals-act-of-2010-strives-to-reach-european-parity-95506914.html 5. Online news article: “Cadmium: The Health Hazards of an Everyday Toxin.” Aol News. June 4, 2010. http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/cadmium-recalls-raise-questions-about-health-hazards-of-everyday-toxin/19503669 6. Online Journal Article: “President’s Cancer Panel: Environmental Cancer Risk Underestimated.” Roxanne Nelson. Medscape Medical News. May 13, 2010. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/721766 Pre-Seminar Activities In the week preceding the Socratic Seminar, for homework or an anchor activity, students will watch the two-night CNN special report “Toxic Childhood” airing June 2 and 3, 2010. They will also read the articles listed above which can be found online by using the provided links. They will be asked to write down six ideas from the special reports and articles that they would like to discuss or question during the seminar. On Socratic Seminar Day, the image of the recently recalled cadmium tainted Shrek drinking glasses from McDonald’s will be displayed on the SMARTBoard screen for the duration of the seminar. *Socratic Seminar Questions: Opening Question: Why is the issue of ensuring the safety of chemicals in everyday products so complicated? Core Questions: 1. How is exposure to chemical toxins impacting the health of Americans? 2. Why isn’t current law effective in keeping unsafe products off the market? 3. Why are children especially vulnerable to exposure to toxic chemicals? 4. How will global economics play a part in the government’s consideration of stronger legislation to regulate chemicals? 5. Will Europe’s new stronger legislation to control chemicals place greater pressure on the United States to follow suit? 6. Has the government been remiss in its duty to protect its citizens from harm? 7. Has the government placed a higher value on economics than health when it comes to chemical exposure? Closing question: How can we as consumers educate ourselves and take an active role in avoiding dangerous chemical exposure? Assessment: Teacher: Use Assessing Thinking: Two Continu (adapted from Assessing Thinking: Six Continua by Visible Thinking) Student: Self-Assessment
Topic: Regulation of Toxic Chemicals in the United States
Goals of the Seminar:
1. To help students consider how proposed legislation to control toxic substances is influenced by and impacts upon economics and public safety.
2. To provide an opportunity for students to think critically and form answers to key questions: What is the government’s responsibility in ensuring the safety of consumer products? and Why should we as consumers be concerned about chemical exposure?
3. To raise questions that students will research and report back to classmates.
Documents:
1. Examiner.com New York: “McDonald’s to release recall details on Shrek glasses June 8.” Robyn Kurth. June 6, 2010. http://www.examiner.com/x-1022-Orlando-Parenting-Examiner~y2010m6d6-McDonalds-to-release-recall-details-on-Shrek-glasses-June-8
2. CNN’s two-night special report “Toxic Childhood” airing June 2 and 3, 2010.
3. Online Newspaper article: “Confusion Centers on Chemicals and Cancer.” Kelly Brewington. The Baltimore Sun. May 27, 2010. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-05-27/health/bs-hs-chemicals-environment-cancer-20100527_1_exposures-chemicals-and-cancer-cancer-deaths
4. Online News Release: “Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 Strives to ‘REACH’ European Parity.”
LeClairRyan. PR Newswire. June 3, 2010. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/safe-chemicals-act-of-2010-strives-to-reach-european-parity-95506914.html
5. Online news article: “Cadmium: The Health Hazards of an Everyday Toxin.” Aol News. June 4, 2010. http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/cadmium-recalls-raise-questions-about-health-hazards-of-everyday-toxin/19503669
6. Online Journal Article: “President’s Cancer Panel: Environmental Cancer Risk Underestimated.” Roxanne Nelson. Medscape Medical News. May 13, 2010. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/721766
Pre-Seminar Activities
In the week preceding the Socratic Seminar, for homework or an anchor activity, students will watch the two-night CNN special report “Toxic Childhood” airing June 2 and 3, 2010. They will also read the articles listed above which can be found online by using the provided links. They will be asked to write down six ideas from the special reports and articles that they would like to discuss or question during the seminar. On Socratic Seminar Day, the image of the recently recalled cadmium tainted Shrek drinking glasses from McDonald’s will be displayed on the SMARTBoard screen for the duration of the seminar.
*Socratic Seminar Questions:
Opening Question:
Why is the issue of ensuring the safety of chemicals in everyday products so complicated?
Core Questions:
1. How is exposure to chemical toxins impacting the health of Americans?
2. Why isn’t current law effective in keeping unsafe products off the market?
3. Why are children especially vulnerable to exposure to toxic chemicals?
4. How will global economics play a part in the government’s consideration of stronger legislation to regulate chemicals?
5. Will Europe’s new stronger legislation to control chemicals place greater pressure on the United States to follow suit?
6. Has the government been remiss in its duty to protect its citizens from harm?
7. Has the government placed a higher value on economics than health when it comes to chemical exposure?
Closing question:
How can we as consumers educate ourselves and take an active role in avoiding dangerous chemical exposure?
Assessment:
Teacher: Use Assessing Thinking: Two Continu (adapted from Assessing Thinking: Six Continua by Visible Thinking)
Student: Self-Assessment